Owner crawls on iced over lake to save dog (From Swindon Advertiser)

Owner crawls on iced over lake to save dog

11:30am Thursday 8th January 2009 in News By Ben Perrin

Gizmo the terrier with Ami and Matt Knibbs

A MAN risked his life to save his dog after it fell into a frozen lake.

Dad-of-one Matt Knibbs of Eastleaze had been out walking his dog Gizmo when it skidded into Peatmoor Lake in west Swindon after chasing ducks yesterday.

The 29-year-old called the emergency services straight away, but realising his Lakeland Terrier was in severe trouble Matt took it upon himself to save him.

“He might be a little dog but he means a lot and he’s part of the family,” he said.

“We’re very lucky he stayed where he fell in.

“He must have been in the water at least five minutes – any longer he might not be with us.

“I could see him trying to get out but slipping back in and going underwater.

“He was gasping for breath and it was horrible watching him struggling.

“It took me a while to get out to him but after I did I lay flat on my stomach and pulled him out.

“I could feel the ice cracking under me and knew I had to be quick.

“I took my jumper off and wrapped him up in it.”

Matt was with his pregnant wife of three-months Ami, 26, and their daughter Sasha, five, at the time of the incident at about 3.30pm.

He managed to get Gizmo out before fire crews arrived and took him straight to Shaw Veterinary Centre in Ramleaze Drive, where he was checked over for more than two hours.

“He was shaking and very cold,” said veterinary nurse Anita Pile.

“His temperature wasn’t even registering on the thermometer, so it must have been below 32(c) degrees celsius.

“He was given oxygen therapy and warm intravenous fluids. We dried him off and got him warm as soon as possible.”

One dog who wasn’t so fortunate was a Jack Russell from Wootton Bassett.

The fire brigade was called to Jubilee Lake, at 11.26am, after reports that a dog had gone into the water through the ice.

Crews from Westlea and a water rescue team from Stratton went to the scene and retrieved the animal, but it had sadly died.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service spokeswoman Louise Knox said frozen lakes pose a serious threat to the safety of animals and people.

“Don’t allow your dogs to roam freely on frozen surfaces, as ice can be unstable and break without notice,” she said.

“Keep your pet on a lead at all times. If your dog does go into the water, do not attempt a rescue yourself as the emergency services have the right equipment to do this safely.”